title: [Imaging techniques for studying functional recovery following a stroke: I. Methodological aspects].
abstract: Many patients that survive stroke have to face serious functional disabilities for the rest of their lives, which is a personal drama for themselves and their relatives, and an elevated charge for society. Thus functional recovery following stroke should be a key objective for the development of new therapeutic approaches. In this series of two works we review the strategies and tools available nowadays for the evaluation of multiple aspects related to brain function (both in humans and research animals), and how they are helping neuroscientist to better understand the processes of restoration and reorganization of brain function that are triggered following stroke. We have mainly focused on magnetic resonance applications, probably the most versatile neuroimaging technique available nowadays, and that everyday surprises us with new and exciting applications. But we tackle other alternative and complementary techniques, since a multidisciplinary approach allows a wider perspective over the underlying mechanisms behind tissue repair, plastic reorganization of the brain and compensatory mechanisms that are triggered after stroke. The first of the works of this series is focused on methodological aspects that will help us to understand how it is possible to assess brain function based on different physical and physiological principles. In the second work we will focus on different practical issues related to the application of the techniques here discussed.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clinico de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Espana.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramos-Cabrer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Agulla
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Argibay
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brea
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castillo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods